Blog
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| RickSchenker |
| Pennsylvania’s Legislature is politically partisan and corrupt by design |
| 2009.12.15 18:08:22 | |
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"Let me get right to the heart of the matter. Pennsylvania Legislature cannot be fixed any other way except by a constitutional convention." Rick Schenker Candidate for Lt. Governor Read the analysis by two promenent Republicans. Davies of the Republican Leadership Council writes...the Pennsylvania Legislature in any encyclopedia should read: "the place where things have been so screwed up for so long that they seem normal."
The defense you hear of the Harrisburg Way is that this happens in every state capitol. But it doesn't. Commonwealth Foundation spokesman Joe Sterns worked for the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus from 1998 to 2003, and he remembers traveling to other states and discovering how much more partisan Pennsylvania's Legislature is than others. "In Minnesota, it would be unthinkable that the Republicans would have their own communications and IT [information technology] staffs," he said. Brian Weberg, director of the legislative management program for the National Council of State Legislatures, said Pennsylvania is among "a handful of states that have primarily partisan staffing." "We've railed against this for a long time," said Barry Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause/Pennsylvania. He noted that Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature have separate TV and radio studios, and that all four legislative caucuses have their own research departments, in addition to one available to all lawmakers. It wastes money, he said, "and it helps promote antagonism between the caucuses, because they don't have to work together as much. Read the entire article hereAnd.. Candidate for Governor Sam Rohrer said in a speech... There is a repeating cycle in Harrisburg that led to Bonusgate – and even to the 100 budget-less days and a dysfunctional state government this year.
Politics draws idealistic, smart legislators and staffers to Harrisburg to work for “a cause” – conservatives, progressives, libertarians – both parties – they really just want to ‘make a difference.’
But when they get there – to the Capitol – and take the oath or sign a contract to come and work, they immediately find a values system that’s upside down.
They meet the old bulls who tell them how the system really works. They tell them what they have to do to get ahead, how to raise money, and how to get the chairmanship. They’re told: “Don’t rock the boat. Don’t get too crazy with your ideas. Stay in the middle lane.”
They find out that there is one, unstated value that’s more important than principles, or ideas, or duty or obligation to the citizens and to the Constitution they are sworn to support and to defend - and that’s getting re-elected.
Want someone that will spend everyday for the next four to eight years pushing for a Constitutional Convention?
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| RickSchenker |
| It is the first time I have been called the |
| 2009.12.08 13:19:51 | |
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Thank you to Dan Hirshhorn of Pa2010.com for the coverage... as part of the news "Leftovers" iwrote... "reform darling and Lieutenant Governor candidate Rick Schenker called for a constitutional convention Wednesday. Calling it a “last resort” on his blog, he said that “Pennsylvania government is so wildly corrupt that I must support a constitutional convention.”"
Just call me "darling" Tags: Lt. Governor | Schenker | constitutional convention | Corruption Hits: 150 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Constitutional Covention...the time has come |
| 2009.12.04 14:13:29 | |
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Great editorial in Harrisburg Patriot News by Lowman Henry "Massive corruption, institutional gridlock, greed and pervasive arrogance add up to a system that has failed we, the people, of Penn’s Woods. Recent history has shown the system is incapable of reforming itself. That leaves us with one option — a constitutional convention." To read the whole column click here Tags: Pennsylvania | bonusgate | Corruption | constitutional convention Hits: 109 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Pennsylvania government is so wildly corrupt that I must support a constitutional convention. |
| 2009.12.02 16:46:08 | |
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A constitutional convention is usually something that I would see as a "last resort" to fix the plague of corruption that we have in Pennsylvania. However, I have come to the conclusion that the corruption in Harrisburg is so out of control that I absolutely must support a constitutional convention.
Rick Schenker Candidate for Lt. Governor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 814-823-1301
Please take a look at the information provided by Democracy Rising PA and other groups calling for a constitutional convention. Constitution Convention: In Truth....PA has not had a Constitution convention of any kind since 1967, and we haven't had a general convention since 1873. So it's to be expected that a lot of misinformation will find its way into public discourse about the coming convention. That's why we and other integrity advocates published The Citizen's Guide to a Modern Constitution Convention. As we see mistakes, we will correct them both in DR News and on our web site's Constitution Rx section, beginning with this one:Mistake: the "runaway" convention. Once it begins, a Constitution convention can do anything it wants.In truth: The legislature has the power to limit what a convention may do by stating the limitations in the referendum that citizens approve. For example, the limited convention of 1967 allowed delegates to consider only four subjects. See Chapter 5 of The Citizen's Guide, beginning on page 83, for a discussion of the legal issues. or...go to DR website by clicking here Tags: Lt. Governor | Rick Schenker | constitutional convention | Corruption | Pennsylvania Hits: 222 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Google search...Bonusgate & Pennsylvania Corruption |
| 2009.11.18 13:16:47 | |
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(above PA Atty General announces more indictments of politicians) 10 Repbulicans from State House of Representatives indicted this year... 12 Democrats from State House of Representatives indicted last year... Many others implciated in "bonusgate" investigation... Other ethics violations and charges of improper use of taxpayers money abound in Harrisburg... So tell me again why people distrust polticians...
Tags: Corbett | Corruption | bonusgate | Pennsylvania State House | politicians Hits: 178 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Are politicians for sale? |
| 2009.10.19 20:10:40 | |
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POLITICO.com had an article about the shrinking number of lobbyists in D.C. that work for financial institutions since the economic collapse. One telling statement in the article implies that our politiicans are for sale. Katleen Day of the Center for Responsible Lending said that if we have a strong financial recovery, she fears that it will enable the financial industry to spend more on lobbyists to water down reform legislation. “It’s not how many people they have, it’s how much money they’re giving,” said Day.
Unfortunately the same is true for Harrisburg. Why don't we make it illegal for legislators to take money (or gifts of any kind) from lobbyists?
Please join me in this fight! Please donate at least $17 now (I will not accept money from lobbyists).
Rick Schenker Candidate for Lt. Governor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tags: politicians for sale | reform | lobbyists Hits: 111 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Why is it so hard for politicians to do the right thing? |
| 2009.10.15 15:44:03 | |
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Why is it so hard for politicians to do the right thing? My wife and I were having a nice dinner at one of Erie’s lovely waterfront restaurants –the Sloppy Duck. We were sitting on the upper deck overlooking the bay front. At one of the tables next to us, there was a group of young guys having a few beers. The more beers they had, the easier it was to hear their conversation. I couldn’t help but tune-in since it was obviously about politics. They were talking about the Congresswoman from Erie, Kathy Dalhkemper. One guy, who obviously worked for her, said something like this. “So I sat down with her to explain the issue. I told her all about how people would perceive her vote on the legislation. I explained the polling numbers and that we thought voters would look favorably on a “yes” vote. Then suddenly she asked me a question that I have never been asked before. She said, “But, what is the right thing to do?” Can you believe it?” They all laughed and shook their heads in amazement. Kathy Dalhkemper is the exception not the rule in politics, and I have a great deal of respect for her because she wants to "do the right thing." I also want to tell you about another young man that used to work for me, when I was Erie County Executive. At his first staff meeting in my office, we were wrestling with one of those tough issues that no matter what decision we made we knew my name would probably end up in the newspaper in a bad way. These types of issues were commonplace, and I handled it that day the way I always handled it. After listening to my staff talk about the potential political fall-out, I would always ask—“What’s the right thing to do?” That's when we got down to the best answer without any regard for how it was going to affect me politically. After his first staff meeting, that young man came to me and said, “I never thought I would ever hear a politician say, “what is the right thing to do.” Well, he heard it many times in my office, and it always amazed him. This young man now works in Harrisburg for a public relations firm that works for politicians. I have asked him a few times if he has every heard anyone in Harrsiburg ask that same question. Each time he has told me that he has never once heard anyone ask, “What is the right thing to do?” So…why is it so hard for politicians to ask this question? Because they are more worried about being re-elected than they are about doing what is right. That is the hard truth of the matter. I may or may not become Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania, but one thing I will always do on every issue—I will always ask myself and others, “What is the right thing to do?” Rick Schenker Candidate for Lt. Governor Tags: Erie County Executive | Kathy Dahlkemper | Congresswoman | Lt. Govneror | Rick Schenker Hits: 174 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Ricks Rants--New Video Blog on YOUTUBE |
| 2009.08.13 21:30:23 | |
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Schenker is funny and informative--Watch Now on this link. Tags: Rick Schenker | Lt.Governor | Pennsylvania | state legislature | Corruption | petition
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| RickSchenker |
| With 100,000 online citizens demanding change, I guarantee they will have to listen to us. |
| 2009.07.18 16:16:30 | |
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Between 1992 and 1996, I built the largest—most well financed grassroots organization in the country right here in Pennsylvania. I traveled the state constantly to organize over 3,000 volunteers. We had over 10,000 active donors and a database of 60,000 people willing to engage in the process of protecting our freedoms. It was time consuming and expensive, but it was very effective.
Today I am running for Lt. Governor to challenge the culture of corruption in Harrisburg. But more importantly I am building a grassroots coalition to combat corruption and bring accountability to Pennsylvania government. This is not solely a campaign to elect one man as the next lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. With the help of people like you, I am building an online community of citizens who are willing to stay engaged in the process. Together, we will push to enact legislative reforms and promote public policies that are good for the public interest instead of the special interests.
I can guarantee you this—if we build an organization of 100,000 online citizens demanding change, they will have to listen to us. Especially if I am elected Lt. Governor (click here to find out why).
To get started PLEASE SIGN the Petition to Reduce the Size & Cost of .Pennsylvania’s Legislature. Then ask everyone you know with an email address to sign the petition too.
Work with me to get 100,000 people to sign the petion to REDUCE THE SIZE & COST OF THE LEGISLATURE. Together we will be the driving forces that challenges corruption in Harrisburg.
Rick Schenker Candidate for Lt. Governor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tags: Rick Schenker | Lt. Governor | Challenge Corruption | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania Hits: 508 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Fumo gets 12 days per felony... says “could I have done it differently? PROBABLY NOT.” |
| 2009.07.17 19:40:48 | |
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An interesting AP article show that Fumo got about 12 days each for the 137 counts for which he was convicted.
The most interesting part of the story was the part about Fumo’s remorse. It said, “Fumo himself said his greatest loss may be that of the Senate job he held so dear. “If anything, what I miss the most is not being there," Fumo, his voice crackling, told the judge. "It's fun. It is fun. In retrospect, would I have done it differently? Maybe. Could I have done it differently? Probably not. I could not have gotten the results I got by being a bureaucrat," Fumo said. To open full story in a new window..,
Are you sick of this yet? Sign the petition to REDUCE THE SIZE & COST OF PENNSYLVANIA’S LEGISLATURE Tags: Corruption | Pennsylvania state senate | Fumo Hits: 183 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| This is wrong! State workers not being paid…except…guess who |
| 2009.07.16 16:21:31 | |
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While nearly 80,000 state workers are working without pay, one special group of state workers doesn't seem to be affected. Legislative staffers are getting paid in full.
Yes, I know Ed Rendell is holding state workers hostage trying to get a tax increase, but legislative leaders need to tell their staff to suck it up and take no paychecks until this mess is resolved. Then let's see if a little pressure from inside the legislature will help to resolve the budget problems quicker.
Sick of this stuff yet? Sign the petition to REDUCE THE SIZE & COST OF PENNSYLVANIA'S LEGISLATURE Tags: Pennsylvania | budget | legislature | taxes Hits: 182 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Sad story from female staffer caught up in bonusgate scandal |
| 2009.07.15 23:05:38 | |
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A female staffer whose name surfaced in the bonusgate scandal said she typically spent "a lot of time over the years" doing campaign work. Initially, she said, it didn't seem like a big deal because made up for the time by doing legislative work after hours. After a while, she realized the political work was not only illegal but unfair for outsiders to have to run against incumbents whose campaigns are being run by state workers on state time. Although she was granted immunity from criminal prosecution when she testified before a grand jury last year, she fears for her job if she were to speak out. "Maybe I deserve to be fired. Every day I regret that I let myself get involved in any of this, but in my crazy brain I was afraid [if I didn't do campaign work] I would either be fired or shunned to the point of not having a meaningful job. I did those things and I knew they were wrong. I feel horrible about it and I don't know how to fix it. One of these days I'm going to have to tell my kids why mommy broke the law, and it's going to be really sucky. The whole thing is awful." She asked not to be identified.Read the entire story by Tracie Mauriello, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau
PLEASE...Sign the petition to REDUCE THE SIZE & COST OF PENNSYLVANIA'S LEGISLATURE Tags: bonusgate | bonus scandal | public corruption | Pennsylvania Hits: 150 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Quote of the week—What do you think of when you hear the word “politics” ??? |
| 2009.07.15 19:32:29 | |
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This is sad but funny...
“Being a car dealer or used-car salesman will get you a bad rap, but it’s not as bad as being in politics,” says Congressman John Campbell of California. “My position in the public esteem went down from a car salesman to being a politician.”
Sign the petition to REDUCE THE SIZE & COST OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE Tags: politicians | politics Hits: 183 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Why don't lawmakers just testify? |
| 2009.07.07 13:21:21 | |
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It seems to me that those that are innocent would be happy to testify.
As the pre-trial hearings begin today for the 12 public officials charged with involvement in paying taxpayer funded bonuses for state employees who conducted political campaign work on state time with state resources, I cannot help but wonder why those that are supposedly innocent would not want to testify at these hearings.
In case you don't know...a bunch of subpoenas were delivered in the Capitol last week ordering as many as 100 to appear at the hearings in which former State House Democratic Whip Mike Veon attempts to make the case that "everybody" was engaged in this practice and not just him. Veon is accusing State Attorney General Tom Corbett of "selective prosecution" Basically he is saying, "Everybody was doing it. Why are you picking on me?"
The funny thing is that attorneys for the House Democratic and Republican caucuses filed documents to kill subpoenas issued to lawmakers Of course, this is using more taxpayer money to pay for legal fees for these elected officials being called to testify. But...why don't they want to testify? Do they have something to hide?
These taxpayer funded lawyers have characterized the subpoenas as a desperate attempt by Veon and the other defendants to intimidate lawmakers and make a circus out of the proceedings. Why should it be intimidating?
Personally, I think that if these lawmakers have nothing to hide, they should just testify and get it over with....or would some of them have to "plead the fifth" so they don't incriminate themselves?
REGISTER TO COMMENT Tags: bonusgate | bonus scandal | public corruption | Corbett | Pennsylvania | Veon | state house | state senate Hits: 217 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Expect a number of folks in Harrisburg to “plead the fifth” |
| 2009.07.05 21:40:20 | |
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To plead the fifth is to refuse to answer a question because the response could provide self-incriminating evidence of an illegal conduct punished by fines, penalties or forfeiture. I don’t know if those members of the legislature and their staffers that received subpoenas in the bonusgate scandal are allowed to plead the fifth before a grand jury in Pennsylvania, but if they are, I would expect many of them to do so.
Some of the names that we know received subpoenas were House Democrat leaders Todd Eachus, Bill DeWeese, and Jennifer Mann in addition to many others. On the Republican side it was told that at least 10 persons including members and staffers also received subpoenas.
Any lawyers out there want to tell us if these folks can “plead the fifth.” Hearings are supposed to begin on Tuesday.
PLEASE BECOME A REGISTER USER TO COMMENT Tags: bonusgate | bonus scandal | public corruption | Corbett | Pennsylvania Hits: 196 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Timeline of bonusgate scandal |
| 2009.07.03 01:54:13 | |
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Here is a good timeline of the bonusgate scandal put together by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the stories related to each date. I shortened it here for quick reading, but the entire story can be open in a new window by clicking on this link. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08162/888801-85.stm Here is my shortened version of their timeline and the related stories
BREAKING NEWS: July 3, 2009 As many as 100 subpoenas were served at the state Capitol yesterday in the bonusgate scandal. Corbett has said he is investigating Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate and that another round of charges will be filed. See full story
July 7, 2005 State lawmakers approve pay raise • "General Assembly votes itself a 16 percent minimum pay raise" Nov. 5, 2005 Lawmakers repeal pay raise• "Repeal of pay raises passes quickly, 50-0, as leaders ask for forgiveness" November 2006 angry voters seek to replace pay-raise supporters with political newcomers. • "Voter displeasure sends Harrisburg biggest 'freshman' class in years" Jan. 27, 2007 The Harrisburg Patriot-News reports that some Democratic House employees received bonuses Jan. 28, 2007 DeWeese's office tells reporters that the bonuses are an "internal caucus matter" and won't discuss • "State House bonuses stun Rendell" Jan. 31, 2007 Newly elected leaders of the Senate say they weren't aware of the bonuses and put an immediate stop to them. • "GOP halts bonus practice" Feb. 1, 2007 Democrats release details of bonus. Spokesman says: "There is no correlation between campaign work and legislative bonuses. ... They weren't for political work. We know that's illegal." • "State House bonuses stun Rendell" Feb. 11, 2007 80 of the 100 Democratic House staffers receiving biggest bonuses donated money to or worked on political campaigns• "Top bonus recipients aided top Dems" Feb. 16, 2007 O’Brien releases list of House salaries and Senate leaders soon follow suit. • "33 House staffers were paid over $100,000" Feb. 23, 2007 Democratic staffers actually earned average salaries of $41,262 while Republicans averaged $36,913. • "Dems paid more to House staff" Aug. 23, 2007 Agents from Attorney General's Office raid the Democratic Office of Legislative Research…confiscate 20 boxes of records. • "Democratic offices searched in Harrisburg" Sept. 2, 2007 apparent ties between campaign work and bonuses. • "Campaign work tied to House bonuses" Sept. 12, 2007 Statewide grand jury meets. • "Grand jury investigating state House pay bonuses" Sept. 20, 2007 Democratic aides file appeals to block subpoenas forcing them to testify…caucus asks to keep the contents of boxes being considered by the grand jury. • "Democrats attempting to block state probe of bonuses" Oct. 7, 2007 State Rep. Frank LaGrotta is under investigation for putting his sister and niece in jobs and then padding their salaries. Sources report LaGrotta cooperating in the bonus investigation "LaGrotta points fingers at top Dems" Oct. 16, 2007 Grand jury investigation continues. Witnesses include aide who spent four months away from state job to work on campaigns and still received taxpayer-funded bonus• "2 more aides to testify on Democratic bonuses" Oct. 17, 2007 judge of the grand jury, reviews contents of boxes seized in raid and allows them to be admitted into evidence…finds contents to be "overwhelmingly and patently non-legislative in nature." files labeled "opposition research," "incumbent protection plan" and "memo on challenger in election." • "Judge clears most bonus documents for grand jury review" Oct. 21, 2007 Post-Gazette publishes a story suggesting state workers campaigned on state time. • "Campaigning on state time" Nov. 1, 2007 Supreme Court upholds decision allowing 20 boxes of evidence seized in a raid of Democratic offices to be admitted into evidence before the grand jury. • "Grand jury to have access to House Democratic records" Nov. 11, 2007 Post-Gazette reports that the bonuses included nearly $80,000 to Veon's district staff • "Veon loss pays off for aides" Nov. 13, 2007 DeWeese forced out seven employees including his top aides who helped run the caucus who were targets of the grand jury investigation. • "Top aides to state Dems sacked" Nov. 14, 2007 Charges are filed against LaGrotta for paying his sister and niece for work state officials say they never performed. Insiders speculate a plea deal in exchange for Mr. LaGrotta's cooperation in the bonus investigation. • "Ex-Rep. LaGrotta charged in jobs scam" Nov. 21, 2007 bonus payments will increase pensions for recipients• "House bonuses will pad pensions" Nov. 22, 2007 records seized in raid had been slated for destruction… tip led prosecutors to seek an expedited warrant to search the office before destruction…employees were told to drill holes through computer hard drives to destroy traces of data tracking employee hours. • "State bonus investigation a step ahead of shredders" Dec. 16, 2007 e-mails show bonus determinations were based "on the number of days people spent in the field."… ranked employees as "rock stars," "good," and "OK." Bonuses assigned according to the rankings. • "E-mails show how Dems tied staffers' bonuses to campaign work" Jan. 9, 2008 The Democratic caucus has a closed-door meeting to discuss Mr. DeWeese's future. • "State House Democrats keep DeWeese as leader" Feb. 4, 2008 Mr. LaGrotta pleads guilty to two felony counts of violating the state's conflict of interest law and is sentenced to six months house arrest. • "Ex-Rep. LaGrotta pleads guilty in ghost employee case" Feb. 14, 2008 Open Records law signed into law. Proponents say the law will prevent future bonusgate-type scandals. • "Open records law puts onus on agencies" April 11, 2008 AG investigating four lawmakers that received $5,000 checks from Dominick DeNaples, an applicant for a casino license. They were told to deposit most of the money into Mr. Veon's campaign account. • "Checks to legislators probed" May 11, 2008 intern for the House Democratic caucus said he was told to shred boxes of personnel records…including the time slips that may have established a connection between bonuses and leave time taken to perform campaign work. • "Intern shredded papers sought in House inquiry" June 7, 2008 employees of the Democratic Legislative Research Office said their work area performed more campaign work than legitimate legislative functions. the office was a "parking place" for political operatives until they were needed for election work. • "Politicos 'parked' in state office" June 15, 2008 E-mails show that lines between campaign and state work in Veon's offices were nearly indistinguishable. • "Veon campaigners on state payroll" June 22, 2008 computer records were deleted from computers controlled by Veon in an apparent attempt to destroy information relevant to the grand jury's probe. • "Veon data files erased" July 10, 2008 Charges are filed against 12 people connected with the House Democratic caucus. Grand jurors accuse them of arranging illegal bonuses for campaign work, • "12 faces charges in bonus scandal" July 11, 2008 12 arraigned in Dauphin County. • "Job scandal suspects released" Aug. 3, 2008 Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, calls for the majority leader to step down because he lost control of his caucus. • "House Dem wants DeWeese to resign" Aug. 15, 2008 The House Republican staffers called to testify before the grand jury. • "House Republicans see some caucus staff subpoenaed" Sept. 22, 2008 Corbett announces there will be no more charges filed until after general election. • "Bonusgate charges put off" Oct. 7, 2008 Democratic staffers testify that they routinely performed campaign work on state time, in state offices and on state-owned computers, printers and copy machines. • "Hearings begin in bonusgate case" Oct. 8, 2008 Manzo agrees to cooperate and plead guilty to charges against him…testifies that he believes Mr. DeWeese was aware of the bonus scheme. • "Ex-aide implicates DeWeese" Oct. 16, 2008 Manzo makes first appearance before the grand jury….questioned for five hours. • "Aide testifies before grand jury" November 2008 DeWeese prevails in general but loses leadership position. • "State House Dems select McCall for speaker's post" December 2008 New House Dem leader orders the caucus to stop paying legal fees for bonusgate defendants. • "House Dems to stop covering legal fees" March 16, 2009 E-mails surface suggesting DeWeese knew of bonuses. • "E-mails suggest DeWeese knew of bonuses" Tags: bonusgate | bonus scandal | public corruption | Corbett | Pennsylvania Hits: 223 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| More charges of corruption are imminent in bonusgate scandal |
| 2009.07.02 15:42:40 | |
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Based on information leaking from sitting grand jury and current cases against a dozen officials accused of using taxpayer money to run political campaigns, it seems likely that a number of other indictments are imminent by the end of the year.
It’s looks to me like the prosecutors are allowing the defenses for those currently charged to help provide evidence of wrong doings by other lawmakers engaged in similar conduct. So far, claims by those currently charged seem to implicate current elected officials including Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, former House Speaker John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, current PA Revenue Secretary Steve Stetler and others.
Some people seem to believe that Corbett is using these public corruption cases against Democrats to run for Governor, but just because his office filed charges against Veon and 11 former House Democrat associates does not mean that other charges against Republicans and Democrats are not forthcoming. In fact, just a few months ago, Corbett said ‘when the next criminal charges come in a public corruption investigation of the State Legislature, people will be shocked by the staggering amount of taxpayer money involved.” A month later he announced another grand jury would be seated in Pittsburgh to focus on public corruption and organized crime.
In response to a motion to dismiss charges because Corbett has not filed charges against other involved in using taxpayer money for political campaigns,” his office argued that they have "conclusive evidence" to counter the defense claims of selective prosecution but they cannot reveal that evidence publicly. Since the investigation is still active, the law prohibits the disclosing of evidence pertaining to persons being investigated by a grand jury.
It seems to me that Corbett is building solid cases against all parties involved. The evidence this time will include the public testimony by those that are currently being prosecuted. PLEASE REGISTER AND COMMENT & FOLOW ME ON TWITTER Tags: Corruption | Corbett | Pennsylvania | state senate | state house | bonus scandal | bonusgate Hits: 215 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Promises for pet projects is one of the corrupt practices of the state legislature |
| 2009.06.30 17:45:14 | |
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The following comment was in an email sent to me by State Representative Daryl Metcalfe. It is another example of using taxpayer money for political purposes. GO DARYL… "I was told by a couple of my colleagues that one of the Democrat leaders has asked if the Republicans have “needs,” in an attempt to open dialogue on how their votes can be bought for tax increases. Legislative leaders and Governors using our tax dollars to make promises of tax dollars for individual legislators’ pet projects, in order to gain the legislator’s vote, has been one of the corrupt practices in the legislature. I have cosponsored legislation that would make this type of corrupt activity illegal." I'd love to hear your thoughts...REGISTER TO COMMENT Tags: Pennsylvania Legislature | democrats | Corruption Hits: 160 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Is it standard practice to work on campaigns on government time? |
| 2009.06.30 14:37:33 | |
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As part of his defense against corruption charges, former State Represenative Mike Veon filed almost 600 pages of pretrial exhibits to support his claim that working on election campaigns on government time has been a standard practice. To read the story in a new window click here
Is anyone suprised by this? PLEASE REGISTER TO COMMENT Tags: campaigns | elections | Pennsylvania | state senate | state house | Veon | bonus scandal | bonusgate Hits: 182 | Read more... |
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| RickSchenker |
| Transparency will help fight corruption... What's next? |
| 2009.06.26 16:13:11 | |
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Freshman Representative Jim Christiana has introduced legislation that would provide publicly searchable records that will make all state expenditures available for public scrutiny. The theory is that expenditures like the bonuses paid to state employees for doing campaign work would have been easily seen and therefore would never had been awarded for fear of voter retaliation.
A comment made by, Bill DeWeese, a legislative leader implicated in the bonus scandal reflects the attitude in which lawmakers in Pennsylvania operated for many years. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, State Representative DeWeese said, “such a database would have eliminated problems from the past.” Asked whether he was referring to the bonus scandal, DeWeese said, "That is correct."
Public corruption always happens in secret. That is why it is important to pass this legislation. It should go a long way to discouraging corruption since it will be difficult for even the most self-serving politician to do something illegal knowing that everybody is watching.
I think it also important to understand that public corruption happens when we give too much power and control to the majority and minority leadership positions in the state House and Senate. It is in their best interest to use resources in ways that will help win elections for members of their own political parties. We need to completely change the way the legislature does business in Harrisburg.
Let me hear your thoughts and idea on how to change this. REGISTER TO REPLY Tags: bonusgate | Corruption | DeWeese | pennsylvania senate | pennsylvania house | bonus scandal Hits: 201 | Read more... |